Corey Kiner on UC Year 2, What He's Improving, And More
Corey Kiner on UC Year 2, What He's Improving, And More
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00:00 Russ Altman here with Bearcats running back Corey Kiner.
00:02 Corey, looks like the weight room is working well for everybody.
00:07 You're looking bigger than I could see from last year.
00:09 What is this offseason been like heading into Camp HireGround with the new
00:13 strength staff?
00:14 >> Coach Satterfield came in with the new strength staff, with Coach Nico and
00:17 all his guys, they came in.
00:19 And they let us know from day one that we're not where we need to be.
00:22 They set goals for us and then they made us set goals for ourselves.
00:25 And this offseason we've done nothing but tried to reach these goals every day.
00:28 And then on our off days, us as the players, our leaders have stepped up and
00:33 had us come out here doing extra stuff on our own.
00:35 So it's been straight work for us off this offseason.
00:38 >> Have you been trying to take more of a leadership role here in year two?
00:41 Obviously transferred from LSU last year, getting your feet wet in the program,
00:44 coming back to Cincinnati for a hometown kid.
00:46 And you have a pretty big voice in that room, I would guess, as a running back.
00:49 >> Yes, sir.
00:50 Well, we have two upperclassmen in the room right now, Ryan Montgomery and
00:53 Ethan Wright, who've been teaching me what it's like to be a leader in the room.
00:57 So I've been learning from them and trying to lead by example, do the right thing and
01:00 then see what they're doing so I could do it as well.
01:04 >> Average, a pretty high average for Kerry last year.
01:06 You were very efficient in your touches, but
01:08 it was a pretty split backfield overall.
01:10 Do you anticipate that kind of being the same kind of thing and
01:13 you kind of having to take advantage of all the opportunities you're gonna get this
01:17 year, what's that gonna look like?
01:18 >> Well, my goal is to take advantage of every opportunity that I get,
01:22 no matter what the situation is.
01:23 So whenever they need me, whenever they give me the ball or shoot,
01:26 whenever I'm on the field, I'm trying to help my team succeed.
01:30 >> So coming into this year, this is your third year in college football, right?
01:34 Yeah.
01:35 So what is the biggest thing coming off of the first two years that you're trying to
01:38 improve on individually?
01:40 >> Individually, I'm trying to help my knowledge of the game grow.
01:44 I've been meeting with my teammates a lot, meeting with Emory, the quarterback and
01:48 all the receivers and stuff, talking about concepts, pass blocking with alignment.
01:52 Doing extra drills on the side with the running backs and stuff like that,
01:55 just trying to broaden my horizon.
01:57 And catch the ball out the backfield, pass block, trying to do everything.
02:00 >> Pass blocking, is that kind of the biggest thing that can kind of separate
02:04 you in this room is being able to be that kind of three down guy that can be
02:08 versatile across all types of plays?
02:10 >> Yes, sir, it's pass blocking, catching the ball,
02:12 all that's gonna have to separate me.
02:13 Cuz we got some guys in this room who all do a lot.
02:16 So I'm just trying to find my way.
02:18 >> Three different schemes throughout your college career.
02:21 How would you say this outside zone scheme fits your running style?
02:25 >> True, like I said, I'm doing whatever they need me to do.
02:27 It's outside zone, inside zone, whatever they need me to do,
02:30 put the ball in my hands.
02:31 I'm trying to do what I can to help the team.
02:33 >> Second year at higher ground, what do you think about the whole experience?
02:36 And maybe what's one thing that you like to do here at higher ground and
02:40 maybe decompress after a practice or something like that?
02:42 >> Well, it's a nice environment cuz there's not a lot around here.
02:45 It's not anything around here.
02:47 And we're all together 24/7.
02:48 So it's a great opportunity for us to bond as a team.
02:51 We have a whole lot of new guys, transfers that transfer in.
02:54 So it's a good opportunity for
02:55 us to all get to know each other away from football.
02:58 >> Coach Sims, what's the relationship been like with him?
03:01 What's his coaching style been like for you?
03:03 How have you just kind of gelled with that part of the coaching staff?
03:07 >> So Coach Sims is a nice hard-nosed coach.
03:09 He's gonna take his time to make sure you know everything.
03:12 But when it's on the field, it's straight work.
03:14 And I respect that from him because, shoot, when you're tired and
03:18 stuff like that, your mind telling you stop.
03:20 But he telling you keep going,
03:22 you got a whole another level that you can reach.
03:24 >> What's Corey Kiner's top play?
03:26 What's your favorite play, maybe individually, from last year?
03:30 And overall as a team, what was your favorite play that kind of watched,
03:34 if you weren't a part of it, or a play that you were a part of that had a big impact?
03:37 >> My favorite play last year, it was against Tulsa, I wanna say.
03:42 >> Okay.
03:43 >> It was a fake, it was RPO to me.
03:45 They faked it to me.
03:45 Tyler Scott was running down the field wide open.
03:47 And it was fun because I got to run down the field and
03:49 celebrate with him in the end zone.
03:51 >> Obviously got Tyler in the NFL now.
03:52 There's so many more NFL bases and names coming off of UC.
03:57 How cool is that and how much of a relationship you kind of carry on with
04:00 those guys that have made it to the league?
04:02 Obviously, they're outside of your room, the guys that have been in your time here
04:05 that you've been with that are now in the league.
04:07 >> Yes, sir.
04:07 >> How cool is that and how much of a kind of boost is that for you guys to see,
04:11 hey, it's possible if you put in the work here, we can get to the next level.
04:15 >> Well, those guys who are at the next level were great leaders on and
04:19 off the field here.
04:20 And they've given me examples on what I need to do,
04:23 show me things that I wanna do, and just been great leaders.
04:26 I'm trying to see what they did so I can implement that in my game as well.
04:30 >> Is there one weakness that you feel like you've been trying to shore up that
04:34 you can notice definitely throughout spring ball that you've been working on in
04:37 the summer workouts and stuff like that, heading into camp out here?
04:39 >> Stop thinking so much.
04:41 I think too much, but shoot.
04:43 >> What do you mean? Is that just in the hole?
04:44 You're just not- >> Just thinking too much in general.
04:46 So if somebody tells me something, I'll think about it.
04:49 And I'm a fast thinker, I just think too much.
04:52 Whereas I know exactly what I'm doing.
04:54 I study my tail off and I work my tail off training and stuff.
04:58 So I know what I'm doing.
04:59 I just need to stop thinking about it and do it.
05:00 >> So the ball gets snapped and go out there and it's left.
05:03 >> Yes, sir.
05:04 >> All right, get a couple fun ones in here.
05:06 Cory Connor, Bearcats running back.
05:08 Your favorite thing to do in Clifton, favorite part about living in Clifton,
05:11 what's your favorite thing to do around campus?
05:13 >> Everything to do around the campus.
05:14 I like, cuz Nippert is an open field, so
05:17 anybody can go on the field and stuff like that.
05:19 I like just going down to Nippert, riding my scooter down to Nippert and
05:21 just sitting at the field, watching the people, walk the dogs.
05:25 You got flag football people on the field, stuff like that.
05:28 I just like doing that.
05:29 >> Funniest teammate on the roster?
05:31 >> Funniest teammate.
05:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:35 >> J-Y, Jordan Young, number one.
05:37 >> All right, new guy.
05:38 >> Yeah, yes, sir.
05:39 >> I like it.
05:40 >> And then, what's your one skill or one thing about Cory Kiner,
05:45 as we kinda close out here, that people don't know or would be surprised to learn?
05:49 >> I'm a team player, like I said.
05:52 I'm gonna do whatever I can to help the team.
05:54 >> So outside of football.
05:55 >> Outside of football?
05:56 Outside of football?
05:57 >> Yeah.
05:57 >> I'm funny.
06:00 You just gotta get to know me.
06:01 People say, if you know me, I talk a lot.
06:03 If you don't know me, I don't talk a lot.
06:05 But I'm funny when you get to know me, cuz I talk a lot.
06:07 >> Cory Kiner, Bearcats running back.
06:09 Brian, for a big year. Thanks for it.